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One day at work two years ago, an alert popped up on my mobile device: my salary had been deposited. It was a fair amount for a someone still at university, so I proceeded with my what I always did payday ritual: I launched every retail application on my phone. From Amazon to Zara, you name it. Within the space of an hour, I had spent £90 on apparel, home decor and a totally unused weighted blanket that never touched.

A few days later, I returned to the internet and purchased a hairdryer. I already had one, but reasoned another wouldn't be a problem. Then I included light strips and two pairs of shoes that weren’t even my size. This wasn't a new pattern. In reality, I’d been infamous for it since I started earning.

Whenever I felt anxious, tired or bored, I would doomscroll until it always ended in an unplanned shopping binge. My excuse was constantly: “It's only £5.” But £5 turned into £10, then £20, and continued.

I was never completely sure about the reason. Perhaps it was because my upbringing in a low-income family, where we’d experience months without buying new clothes or anything to brighten up the house. So any moment I had extra money, there was always a hidden yearning for new and exciting things. Or maybe, and definitely more likely, I was just financially irresponsible and succumbed easily to capitalism’s consumerism.

A Revolutionary Approach

In the end, I opted to experiment with something new. Before acquiring any item, I’d put it in my digital cart, wait 24 hours, then decide whether to finalize the purchase. The greatest advantage of this method was that it provided me space to reflect – an action I’d never taken. For the first occasion since adulthood, I began asking myself: “Do I truly require this? Is it within my budget?” Most of the time, the response was no.

If I opened my shopping apps and discovered items lingering in my basket, I’d remove them and begin anew. By employing this method, I ceased buying things that I intuitively knew I would never utilize. I once wanted to purchasing three board games, but after waiting before going to the shop, I realised I never actually engage with tabletop games.

I also wanted to buying a single-use camera for my first trip to Croatia. After waiting I remembered I had a smartphone, like everybody else, that has a perfectly good lens, and therefore did not need to acquire a separate camera.

The Enduring Benefits

It also signifies I am more selective about the things I do purchase, and I can at last look at my financial records devoid of feeling guilt or discomfort.

Of course, there have been occasions I’ve slipped back into old patterns – it's human nature. The key change is that I can identify the signs sooner, particularly when I’m rushing into a transaction. I’ve come to understand boredom is a strong catalyst. It’s probably the primary motivator of my impulsive spending.

Modern culture exploits this boredom and our desire for instant satisfaction. That’s the reason, looking back, compelling myself to halt before buying has felt strangely liberating. Gaining control over my urges and reaffirming that I don’t need to expend my hard-earned money on non-essential products feels as revolutionary as it is straightforward.